Alphasmart USB Alpha Smart 3000 Word Processing Computer Mac PC

I bought this based on some reviews within the writing community as an alternative to the more expensive word processers. Between this model and the Neo2 I chose the 3000 because of the clear plastic (90s kid, not sorry) and I feel like it looks more retro because of that. I have increased my word count already and find the basic navigation to be helpful considering it is just annoying enough to prevent me from going back and editing instead of writing. I will eventually upgrade to the Neo2 as that seems to be the newest model/the most popular one, but the 3000 is a sturdy machine on its' own. Using this has made me kind of wish that my school had these when I was growing up, but I feel like despite how indestructible they are my classmates would have ruined them.The concept is easy, all it does it write and then can send that writing via cable to an open word doc on your computer. I did see a lot of confusion on how to export documents in my research, but it really is as easy as opening a blank document (or the same doc if you are writing a continuous thing), connecting the cable while the Alphasmart is on, and hitting send. The process does require you to not touch anything on the computer while it is sending (anything clicked will become the new source for the output). I love how simple it really is, and in general that helps to make it very distraction free. The only distraction now is my own attention span and discipline instead of unconsciously drifting over to the internet during down time on a computer/ipad.I would definitely recommend the Alphasmart line for those who need more focus while writing. The device may be bigger than an ipad, but it is portable enough that it can go anywhere with you (for example, I take mine to work for when I have downtime).My 3000 came in pretty close to perfect condition; one of the rubber feet is scraped and the battery door is missing, but so far no impact on functionality. I will say the keyboard is a little more stiff than the average laptop or wired keyboard, and in turn is a little quieter than you would expect it to be. The fact there are eight files that can hold separate stories is nice as well considering some of us writers may be working on multiple projects at a time. I hope that the battery life is as long as it brags, most of the Alphasmarts boast about 700 hours of battery life, as that would definitely make a huge difference over other devices used for writing.

I bought this for my son with disgraphia and executive functioning difficulties. He had been using one for written schoolwork in middle school, but amazingly when he went to high school they couldn't seem to locate one for him.Pros: The seller was prompt and helpful, with all instructions included and extra advice.My son has no complaints about comfort or usability; it fits in his backpack and teachers note he is getting more work done in class since getting it.Papers don't get lost between school and home.He downloads work onto Word in my computer, edits as needed, and prints it out when done, so I can save all his work in case of lost assignments (between home and school, lol), and have a nice record of his progress in writing.No internet access means I can let him keep it all the time to work on his book or his assignments, without worry about unauthorized internet surfing or gaming.Cons: It only is set up to have 8 files going at once; since my son is also working on writing a book for pleasure, he sometimes runs out of new space for an assignment, especially if he forgets to download them in a timely manner.It requires a specialized cord for connecting to a computer; ours stays at home to avoid getting lost, so he doesn't have the option of transferring work directly to a teacher's computer (I suppose I could buy another one...)Downloading is not instantaneous; you can watch the words being printed across the Word document at a rate of about a minute per page, depending on density. Also editing may be required after translation into Word.Androids and ipads are the way of the future, and fewer Alphasmart devices and cords are available, in case of loss or breakage. Some kids might feel the device is too "babyish", although my son says other kids have told him it's cool.It does not provide organizational tools such as calendars and agendas available on newer devices; the spell checker is limited and there is no grammar checker.Overall I'm thrilled that I got it, especially considering the cost vs. an ipad!